Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11-28-30
Galatians 6
Verse 1 reads,
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Throughout Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia he told them that they are not saved by following the law and he slammed the people who were trying to convince the church to follow it. But now at the end of his letter, he talks about finding our brothers and sisters in transgression. If all things are lawful for Christians (1 Corinthians 10:23) then how could a believer be transgressing?
Remember what Paul said, just before this sentence, Galatians 5:16-18 read,
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
He then went on to contrast the evidence of the flesh and the evidence of the Spirit in Galatians 5:19-24
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we care about each other, we will notice the evidence of a person’s life which they may be blind to. I can tell if a brother or sister is giving in to the flesh by the works of the flesh listed above. That is the transgression we catch them in and that is when we are called to restore them gently while checking ourselves against the temptation as well. Chapter 5 ends with verses 25-26 which goes with verse 1 of chapter 6.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Last night in church a woman stood up and spoke, claiming to be speaking the Holy Spirit’s words. It was very clear she was not as her words tried to sow dissension in the church and elevate herself. I was involved with praying with one woman and then another so it was not up to me to speak to her. I do believe that the pastor who has a much closer relationship to her than I do spoke to her. I trust that he as a Spirit-filled passionate follower of Christ dealt with her gently.
You see we often just can’t see the flesh in ourselves, it takes a brother or sister to say, “I can see you are going through something, I can see your fits of anger, let’s talk, let’s pray.” That’s what it took with the woman last night. A spirit of division spoke out of her and it was evident to me that she was projecting her feelings of anger and bitterness on to the church, accusing us of hating her and condemning anyone who did hate her to Hell. Life is not easy. It is not always unicorns and rainbows. Since Jesus took our burden of sin and gave us his burden instead, the enemy will try and load us down with a heavy burden. He wants us to pick up the burden that Jesus forgave and carry it. But that is why we are yoked, partnered with one another. With a yoke we walk together; we carry the burdens together. In loving one another we cannot just see a brother suffering with jealousy, hate, lust, pride or whatever his burden is and not bear it with him and restore him gently. Verses 3-5 read,
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.5 For each will have to bear his own load.
In other words, we can’t think we’re better than the brother we want to help. We can’t assume we have no sins, that the flesh isn’t working in us trying to overcome the Spirit. We lie to ourselves when we do that and set ourselves up for letting our own flesh win instead of helping our brother. Has it ever happened to you to have someone try to help restore you but they speak with arrogance as if they can’t relate to your problems at all? In the end you feel condemnation and shame instead of conviction and edification. There is no gentleness in pride. We are responsible for our own lives, our own walks. We can’t put the blame for our choices on other people, but we can lighten the load for everyone by taking gentle and loving steps beside them.
We are in this together. We all edify one another. No one in the church is above another. Christ is our head and we are His body. Some members may have functions which are more apparent or honored. Some have jobs which carry a higher responsibility but we are together in this, yoked together, edifying one another, and using our gifts for the common good. Verses 6 reads,
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
The one who is taught is just as valuable as the teacher. She has benefit to add to the edifice of the church just as much as the teacher. A yoke doesn’t work if one ox walks at a higher elevation than the other. They walk side by side. One doesn’t pull the burden and the other walk with no weight attached. They carry the load together. If the teacher never listens to the student, he will miss out on what the Holy Spirit in her is saying to him. Teaching works better as a dialogue and discussion than a monologue. The teacher who doesn’t listen and the student who doesn’t speak are in danger of sowing their secret sins and feeding the flesh. Verses 7-10 read,
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
God knows what we do in secret, fleshly or spiritually. We are not lying to Him when we secretly feed the flesh, we are lying to ourselves. It is our choice to either gratify the flesh or please the Spirit. Bearing one another’s burdens, loving one another, and loving our neighbor sow to the Spirit. Those acts of tangible love are what prove God in us, strengthen the faith of the Body and reveal Jesus to the world.
Paul ends his letter with a plea to the body to not let people convince them to take up the Satan’s yoke of the law again. Verses 11-18 read,
See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
You can be arrogant about what a good law-abiding Christian you are and race people to hell or you can boast in Christ, knowing it is He who forgave, saves, and makes you the new and holy son or daughter of God you are. You crucified the flesh! You are dead to sin and alive to the Spirit of God. There is no reason in the world for you to try and live under the law anymore. Walk nobly in the Spirit with peace (no division or anxiety) and mercy (kindness, compassion, and forgiveness).
Verse 1 reads,
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Throughout Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia he told them that they are not saved by following the law and he slammed the people who were trying to convince the church to follow it. But now at the end of his letter, he talks about finding our brothers and sisters in transgression. If all things are lawful for Christians (1 Corinthians 10:23) then how could a believer be transgressing?
Remember what Paul said, just before this sentence, Galatians 5:16-18 read,
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
He then went on to contrast the evidence of the flesh and the evidence of the Spirit in Galatians 5:19-24
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we care about each other, we will notice the evidence of a person’s life which they may be blind to. I can tell if a brother or sister is giving in to the flesh by the works of the flesh listed above. That is the transgression we catch them in and that is when we are called to restore them gently while checking ourselves against the temptation as well. Chapter 5 ends with verses 25-26 which goes with verse 1 of chapter 6.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Last night in church a woman stood up and spoke, claiming to be speaking the Holy Spirit’s words. It was very clear she was not as her words tried to sow dissension in the church and elevate herself. I was involved with praying with one woman and then another so it was not up to me to speak to her. I do believe that the pastor who has a much closer relationship to her than I do spoke to her. I trust that he as a Spirit-filled passionate follower of Christ dealt with her gently.
You see we often just can’t see the flesh in ourselves, it takes a brother or sister to say, “I can see you are going through something, I can see your fits of anger, let’s talk, let’s pray.” That’s what it took with the woman last night. A spirit of division spoke out of her and it was evident to me that she was projecting her feelings of anger and bitterness on to the church, accusing us of hating her and condemning anyone who did hate her to Hell. Life is not easy. It is not always unicorns and rainbows. Since Jesus took our burden of sin and gave us his burden instead, the enemy will try and load us down with a heavy burden. He wants us to pick up the burden that Jesus forgave and carry it. But that is why we are yoked, partnered with one another. With a yoke we walk together; we carry the burdens together. In loving one another we cannot just see a brother suffering with jealousy, hate, lust, pride or whatever his burden is and not bear it with him and restore him gently. Verses 3-5 read,
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.5 For each will have to bear his own load.
In other words, we can’t think we’re better than the brother we want to help. We can’t assume we have no sins, that the flesh isn’t working in us trying to overcome the Spirit. We lie to ourselves when we do that and set ourselves up for letting our own flesh win instead of helping our brother. Has it ever happened to you to have someone try to help restore you but they speak with arrogance as if they can’t relate to your problems at all? In the end you feel condemnation and shame instead of conviction and edification. There is no gentleness in pride. We are responsible for our own lives, our own walks. We can’t put the blame for our choices on other people, but we can lighten the load for everyone by taking gentle and loving steps beside them.
We are in this together. We all edify one another. No one in the church is above another. Christ is our head and we are His body. Some members may have functions which are more apparent or honored. Some have jobs which carry a higher responsibility but we are together in this, yoked together, edifying one another, and using our gifts for the common good. Verses 6 reads,
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
The one who is taught is just as valuable as the teacher. She has benefit to add to the edifice of the church just as much as the teacher. A yoke doesn’t work if one ox walks at a higher elevation than the other. They walk side by side. One doesn’t pull the burden and the other walk with no weight attached. They carry the load together. If the teacher never listens to the student, he will miss out on what the Holy Spirit in her is saying to him. Teaching works better as a dialogue and discussion than a monologue. The teacher who doesn’t listen and the student who doesn’t speak are in danger of sowing their secret sins and feeding the flesh. Verses 7-10 read,
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
God knows what we do in secret, fleshly or spiritually. We are not lying to Him when we secretly feed the flesh, we are lying to ourselves. It is our choice to either gratify the flesh or please the Spirit. Bearing one another’s burdens, loving one another, and loving our neighbor sow to the Spirit. Those acts of tangible love are what prove God in us, strengthen the faith of the Body and reveal Jesus to the world.
Paul ends his letter with a plea to the body to not let people convince them to take up the Satan’s yoke of the law again. Verses 11-18 read,
See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
You can be arrogant about what a good law-abiding Christian you are and race people to hell or you can boast in Christ, knowing it is He who forgave, saves, and makes you the new and holy son or daughter of God you are. You crucified the flesh! You are dead to sin and alive to the Spirit of God. There is no reason in the world for you to try and live under the law anymore. Walk nobly in the Spirit with peace (no division or anxiety) and mercy (kindness, compassion, and forgiveness).
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